Free "trial" download **XP 64 **?

Microsoft is offering a trial (120 days) version of XP 64 free for download.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspx

I put together a 64bit box over the weekend, and would like to try XP 64 before buying an OS, but cannot get the link to work. I consistently get an error message:
"Invalid Address. Please enter a valid address"
I've used several different addresses, same results.
Has anyone been able to obtain the "Free Download"?

New Box:
480 Watt ATX Power Supply
AMD Athlon64 +3200 Venice 939pin
ASUS A8N-SLI
1gig Ram
PCI Express(x16) Video
250G SerialATA HD

The build was cheap, easy and clean (LOVE this MB). Just waiting for the OS.
(currently installed an invalid copy of XP for testing)

Has anyone tried the XP64?

About your mobo.

I've been looking at that one for a new machine I'm building, but I've heard of a lot of problems with the chipset fan. Supposedly this has been fixed in the most recent revision. Have you had any experience with that?

Sorry I can't answer your actual question.

I can tell you that the chipset fan is operational (it runs). Whether it is effective is still undetermined.
The only info visible on the fan is an "ASUS" label.

So far, I am happy with the MoBo. It has the feel of something "well made".
It came with enough cables to cover almost any configuration you might want to use.
I love the hookups for the Serial ATA HD.


I haven't even begun to look at the RAID options, the SLI options,
or the overclocking options.

I won't be able to give a verdict until I can run it under a load.
I have installed a cheepie PCIe Video Card (AXLE 6600)for testing while I shop for something with more horsepower.

Techno-porn is my weakness. :-)

Thanks. That actually tells me quite a bit since most of the problems I've heard about occurred prior to testing it under a load, which magnified the severity of the problem. The fan would be screaming out of the box and cease to function within days before it had truly been tested.

Asus has been very good about replacing the fan on these older revisions and as mentioned have revised the board with the improved fan on those currently being manufactured. I was just wondering what state the transition of old to new boards was. Other than that, I've read very good things about this board.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread. Sorry for the hijack.

With the following (after completion of all the ordering info)

The following error(s) has occurred:
No Product Key can be returned at this time.

I DO have the full version and have installed it on my personal AMD x64 machine. The problem I have with it is, there is still a very thin x64 third party driver collection. I found it a bit amusing and a lot annoying that they would even release a 64 bit mobo BEFORE the OS was released! Having a 64 bit machine with only a 32 bit driver cd does not make a lot of sense. And now, months after it HAS been released, there are still no exact-match 64 bit video drivers for my machine.

Perhaps by the time Longhorn (or whatever the heck they're calling it these days) is released, the hardware people will have caught up a wee bit. But don't count on it.

But driver support for it is limited.
In fact, I would say driver support for it sucks.
I ended up rolling off 64bit just because of freaking driver issues.

I sucessfully downloaded and installed XP64.
The only question I have is....WHY?

The install was easy. More drivers are becoming available daily.
It is cool having a 64 bit operating system, but I won't be buying any time soon.
There is simply no reason to buy at this time.
NOTHING runs any faster with the exception of the 64-bit Internet Explorer packaged with the OS (and according to reviews, it has some problems).
I DON'T use Internet Explorer.
I didn't bother to run any benchmarks, but all software written for 32 bit systems will show NO performance gain, and most will show a slight loss due to the overhead of the emulator.
Eventually, I will have a 64bit OS, but not now.

OTOH: The new box IS DA BOMB.
I LOVE it and recommend it.

New Box:
480 Watt ATX Power Supply
AMD Athlon64 +3200 Venice 939pin
ASUS A8N-SLI
1gig Ram
PCI Express(x16) Video
GeForce 6800GT Graphics
250G SerialATA HD

Simple to assemble, and lightening fast.
I have had none of the problems discussed on the net.
3D Benchmarks over 13,000 with a single GeForce6800
Chips run cool with the stock fans (under 115F) even under the toughest loads (HalfLife Upgrade and FEAR)
I uninstalled all the overclocking software. No need to overclock.

I may never use the 2nd SLI slot. Initially, I had planned to use two cheaper Video Cards in tandem, but the one GeForce6800 (SLI capable) is MORE than enough for even the most resource hungry games today.

My recommendations:
AMD64
Go for the PCI express Video and 939 pin socket MoBo
Get at least 450 Watts ATA capable (it is cheap) "more" is better than "not enough".
Spend the money for the Serial ATA Hard Drive.

If you do these things, you will have a box that is young and has the ability to make use of the inevitable performance upgrades that will become available over the next few years.

I will be glad to answer any specific questions.
Happy Holidays to ALL!